Activities of Antolín SÁNCHEZ PRESEDO related to 2009/2173(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Report on Competition Policy 2008 (short presentation)
Amendments (32)
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its callsthe need for a more prominent role for Parliament in the development of competition policy, including through the introduction of thea co-decision procedurelegislative role and a requirement that Parliament is regularly informed about any initiative in that field;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to report to Parliament in detail and annually about the follow-up to Parliament’s recommendations, and explain any diversion from Parliament’s recommendations;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that competition policy and the strict enforcement of the competition rules are essential for a proper functioning and competitive European markets, and forenhancing efficiency, entrepreneurial excellence and the protection of consumers;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its request for a full report on the role of the Commission Consumer Liaison Officer within the Commission’s annual Report on Competition Policy;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls its request to the Commission to undertake an urgent review of staff resources at the Directorate-General for Competition and ensure that the new resources allocated meet the increasing workload;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the chapter on cartels and consumers as cartels are among the most serious violation of competition law, disrupt the value chain, are detrimental to consumers and have a very negative impact on the economy; encourages the Commission to maintain its strong enforcement to prevent and act against cartels; welcomes instruments such as the settlement package, which allows the Commission to settle cartel cases by means of a simplified procedure where companies, having seen the evidence, choose to acknowledge their involvement in the cartel and the fine imposed on the parties is reduced;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Regards positively the publication of the Communication of 9 February 2009 entitled ‘Guidance on the Commission’s enforcement priorities in applying Article 82 of the EC Treaty to abusive exclusionary conduct by dominant undertakings’ (C(2009)0864); believes that the Guidance is a step forward since it means more transparency and predictability regarding a possible intervention by the Commission but that it should never limit or restrict the capacity of the Commission to act in that field under what is now the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Highlights that in 2008, for the first time in the history of EU competition policy, coercive fines have been imposed for failure to comply with a previous Commission decision;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
New Title before paragraph 7
New Title before paragraph 7
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for an independent report to be drawn up about the potentialcompetition measures to address the moral hazard of statepublic intervention in the financial sector to be taken preserving the stabilisation process; asks the Commission to report on restructuring progress made by the beneficiaries of State aid and to provide more clarity concerning the repayment of State aid and possible sanctions for failure to repay, the repayment of State aid and initiatives for misuse of public money and/or failure to fulfil commitments;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission to investigate further, as a matter of urgency, why State aid granted to banks is not being passed on to the real economy, and to take measures against banks that demonstrably fail or refuseor promote adequate measures to pass on the benefits of State aid;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that the system of competition rules have weathered the storm so far, but that the crisis has brought home the urgency for an EU framework for cross- border crisis management in the financial sector, including a solution for the ‘too- big-to-fail’ risk of institutions, a single European regulator and a bail-out fund or equivalent systemcommon system of regulation and supervision and a European bail-out policy;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Requests the Commission to report in its annual report on competition policy on the national State aid measures, the differences between the national schemes, and their possible distortive effects on competition and economic divergence that might result therefrom; calls on the Commission to prepare proposals for a more coherent, single European approach;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Invites the Commission to explain what criteria will be used to decide on a possible extension of the Temporary Community framework for State aid measures, as the EU is officially out of recession, despite persisting economic difficulties and unemployment; takes the view that the questionnaires to Member States, assessing the Temporary framework, do not alone provide a sufficient basis for such a decision, and calls for additional (independent) studies to be commissioned;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12a (new)
Paragraph 12a (new)
12a. Welcomes the new guidelines on State aid for environmental protection within the framework of the climate- energy package introducing normalised evaluation for minor issues and detailed evaluation for significant issues;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to publish, during the course of 2010, a comprehensive reportreport within its annual report on competition policy, on the effectiveness of State aid granted for ‘green recovery’ (bringing about a substantial shift towards sustainability, in particular in the automotive sector) and State aid for environmental protection;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for a similar reporting on State aid granted for support to SMEs, training, R&D and innovation;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Urges the Commission to inform Parliament about its review of the Commission Decision on State aid for public services, which has been due since 19 December 2008 and which now should take into consideration the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes with concern that the recovery of illegal State aid is a lengthythat, of the EUR 10.3 billion illegal and incompatible anid cumbersome process, and that a small number of Member States is responsible for nearly all pending cases; encourages the Commission to tighten up procedures further and to keep up the pressure on Member States, in particular on repeat offenderto be recovered since 2000, some EUR 9.3 billion (90.7 % of the total recoverable amount) had actually been recovered by the end of 2008; encourages the Commission to continue its efforts to improve the enforcement and monitoring of State aid decisions;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the publication of the Simplification Package and Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General block exemption Regulation1);
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Supports the extension, until 31 December 2011, of the Framework on State aid to Shipbuilding1;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Regards positively the approval of 18 risk capital schemes under the Risk Capital Guidelines in the area of risk capital financing for SMEs; underlines that facilitating risk capital financing for SMEs is essential to promote fair competition;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reiterates its position regarding the White Paper on Damages; endorses the principle of enforcement by consumers, whilst avoiding an excessive legal claims culture; welcomes the announcement by the Commission that the legal basis of the forthcoming proposal will ensure that the 1 OJ C 317, of 30.12.2003, p. 11. measure will be adopted bythat any forthcoming proposal on collective redress must respect Parliament’s view expressed in its resolution of 26 March 2009 on damages actions for breach of the EU antitrust rules and insists that Parliament must be involved in the adoption of such act by means of the co-decision procedure;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the very firm stance the Commission has taken on anti-competitive behaviour in recent years, which causes great harm to consumers and to the economy; is concerned, however, that the instrument of ever higher fines may be too blunt and suggests that a wider range of more sophisticated instruments might be more effective as a deterrent;, favoursing a ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach, with penalties to punish bad behaviour and incentives to reward good behaviour;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to introduce the principle of individuafull liability, and the possibility of criminal sanctions;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Points out that some legal experts consider that very high fines are virtually criminal in nature, raising the question whether an administrative procedure is in line with Article 6 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which concerns the right to a fair trial; points out, furthermore, that SMEs are comparatively harder hit by highSMEs are comparatively harder hit by disproportionate fines than larger companies;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Feels that fines should be proportionate to the potential or effective damage caused by the breach; also proposes that any, in appropriate circumstances, relevant amounts paid in compensation be taken into account when calculating the fine; asks the Commission to review the basis for calculating fines and, if appropriate, to incorporate the new fining principles in Regulation (EC) No 1/2003;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Expects to be duly informed and consulted concerning any amendment of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation, within a timeframe which allows Parliament to undertake adequate scrutiny and to make a thorough contribution, taking into account the urgent need to provide the sector with a predictable horizon that allows it to take the appropriate measures;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Emphasises that the current economic crisis does not justify a general relaxation of EC merger control policies;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Reiterates in this context, its earlier calls for sector inquiries into online advertising and the food industries; calls for an inquiry into media concentrations, including all channels for distribution of content, such as print, television and radio and the internet; requests that the Commission present an analysis of competition in the telecoms and car sectors;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Insists on complete sector inquiries and follow-up measures in close cooperation with the authorities of the ECN into the food industry and, in particular, into the distribution chain for dairy products;